The Tazewell County Clerk’s office is bolstering voter security with the help of two federal grants.
The combined $65,000 from the Department of Homeland Security will fund new software systems across county government. It will also be used to improve physical protections.
County Clerk John Ackerman said there’s more to election security than ensuring ballots aren’t tampered with.
“When you vote, it is absolutely secured. It cannot be manipulated, cannot be hacked — we have safeguards in place,” he said. “Voter information, equally as valuable, is a constant fight.”
Ackerman said additional staff training will help ensure that when voters provide confidential information, it stays private.
Physical upgrades to the clerk’s office include raising the countertop and keeping computers with sensitive information out of the public’s reach.
The office remodel begins Wednesday and is expected to be done by Oct. 25.
